State of Kansas Archives: on Government Reform

Derek Schmidt: Federal bill expanding voting rights is "hyper-partisan"

Derek Schmidt: Support Supreme Court challenge to 2020 election

Jeff Colyer: For new Constitutional convention to limit federal power

Jeff Colyer: Supported Texas challenge to 2020 presidential election

Derek Schmidt: Let legislature override governor's executive orders

Barbara Bollier: Make it easier to vote including same-day registration

Barbara Bollier: No. Make it easier to vote, including early voting, same-day registration for eligible voters, and postage-paid return envelopes for mail-in ballots.

Roger Marshall: Yes. Opposed HR1, which included various measures to make voting easier. Opponents said this risked voter fraud and gave government undue power to interfere.

Dave Lindstrom: Term limits: no more than 12 years House/Senate combined

Members of Congress should be prohibited from accepting PAC contributions from industries with business before the committees upon which the member serves. Committees should operate without undue influence, real or perceived, that arises from the acceptance of campaign contributions from the very interests over which a committee has direct jurisdiction.

Dave Lindstrom: Eliminate Congressional pensions, let them save up

For every $1 billion in overspending added to the annual deficit, salaries of Congress and the president should be reduced by $100. If this plan were in place, the last spending bill would have eliminated $100,000 from each elected official's salary. Such accountability will ensure Congress fulfills its fiduciary duty as stewards of our taxpayer dollars, and force greater scrutiny of favors and giveaways for special interests. Our government will return to operation for the people.

Dave Lindstrom: Confirm constitutionalist judges who respect Rule of Law

Barbara Bollier: Lobbying ban for ex-officials; overturn Citizens United

• Advocate for stricter measures to end the number of government officials leaving their jobs to move to lobbying firms;
• Support a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and reinstate the ban on corporate money in politics;
• Work across the aisle to pass campaign finance reform

Barbara Bollier: Prevent foreign election interference in bipartisan way

Barbara will prevent foreign interference in our elections by securing our election systems, creating auditable paper trails on all voting machines and requiring additional disclosure on online political ads.

ACLU: Disallow checking citizenship papers to register to vote

The ruling is the culmination of a federal lawsuit filed in 2016. At a bench trial earlier this year, the American Civil Liberties Union represented voters who said they had been impeded from registering by the law.

"This decision is a stinging rebuke of Kris Kobach, and the centerpiece of his voter suppression efforts: a show-me-your-papers law that has disenfranchised tens of thousands of Kansans. That law was based on a xenophobic lie that noncitizens are engaged in rampant elections fraud," said the director of the ACLU's Voting Rights Project.

Under the ruling, Kobach must instruct all state and county election officers that voter registration applicants do not need to provide proof of citizenship in order to register to vote.

Kris Kobach: Found in contempt for checking voter citizenship to register

In an 118-page ruling, the judge ordered a halt to the state's requirement that people provide proof of citizenship in order to register to vote. The decision holds the potential to make registration easier as the August and November elections approach.

Kobach was ordered not to enforce the proof of citizenship law and its accompanying regulations. Kobach's office said he will appeal the ruling. At trial, Kobach said the law was working. Since 2000, 129 non-citizens have either registered or attempted to register. Many of them were blocked from registering by the proof of citizenship law, he said.

ACLU: Enforce voter registration despite Kansas contempt

ACLU attorneys complained Kobach routinely defied a temporary injunction issued by Robinson in 2016 to block enforcement of the state's proof of citizenship law. Kobach's office refused to update language on its website suggesting that new voter applicants may not be able to vote. Kobach also failed to follow through on a promise to Robinson that counties would send postcards notifying voters they could participate in elections.

"The judge found that Kris Kobach disobeyed the court's orders by failing to provide registered voters with consistent information, that he willfully failed to ensure that county elections officials were properly trained and that he has a 'history of noncompliance and disrespect for the court's decisions,' " said an ACLU attorney.

Kris Kobach: Contempt of court for blocking new voter registration

Kobach's office refused to update language on its website suggesting that new voter applicants may not be able to vote after November 2016 elections. Kobach also failed to follow through on a promise to Robinson that counties would send postcards notifying voters they could participate in elections, even if they failed to show a birth certificate or other documents when they registered.

Kobach for years has championed the need for strict voter registration laws as a way of keeping noncitizens from voting. As a candidate, Kobach rallies supporters by telling them he likes makes the ACLU unhappy. "As soon as the ACLU sues, I know we have made the right decision," Kobach said during a debate last week.

Jeff Colyer: 4-point plan to increase state government transparency

1. First, we will no longer charge Kansans for open records requests of less than 100 pages.
2. Second, we will institute policies to ensure the Administration relies on official email accounts to conduct state business.
3. Third, I will implement performance metrics for Cabinet Agencies so Kansans can see how we perform.
4. Fourth, we are launching a website to serve as a one-stop-shop for Cabinet Agencies to post open meetings, locations and materials.

Kris Kobach: Tighten restrictions on voting

Jeff Colyer: Supports voter ID requirements

Colyer embraced requirements that voters provide a photograph identification when casting a ballot to minimize the potential of illegal immigrants influencing the outcome of elections. In 2008, he voted in the House for a voter ID bill that would have applied to everyone except those older than 65, people with a disability, individuals residing overseas and members of the military.

Then-Gov. Kathleen Sebelius issued a veto message to block the kind of voter ID legislation eventually signed into law by Brownback. "No elected official should support enacting new laws discouraging or disenfranchising any American who has been legally voting for years," Sebelius said.

Kris Kobach: Vice-chair of Presidential Commission on Election Integrity

The request, sent by the panel's vice chairman, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, asks states to provide voters' names, dates of birth, driver's license numbers and other information.

Kris Kobach: Fight widespread voter fraud with strict voting laws

During his 6-year tenure as secretary of state, Kobach has repeatedly made claims of widespread voter fraud. He crafted a law that requires Kansas voters to provide proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport, to vote. He has so far secured nine convictions for election crimes.

Kobach has repeatedly said the law ensures the integrity of Kansas elections, but opponents, including the ACLU, say that the law makes it harder for rightful voters to participate in elections.

The law blocked thousands of potential voters from participating in the state's last gubernatorial election, but it could not be fully enforced in 2016 under orders of federal and state judges.

Ron Estes: Five-year ban on members of Congress working as lobbyists

Wink Hartman: Replace dysfunction in Topeka with stability

Hartman is owner of oil industry businesses and has been a donor to GOP candidates. He sought the 4th District seat in the U.S. House in 2010 but lost to Mike Pompeo in the Republican primary. Pompeo resigned to accept an appointment as CIA director under President Donald Trump.

Roger Marshall: Low voter turnout results from politicians not listening

For America to again thrive, we have to restore faith in our system of government. This has to start with each Representative. Dr. Marshall is committed to being a leader who will listen to those who elect him. This does not mean Dr. Marshall will agree with everyone, but it does mean he will engage voters and actually listen to our concerns and won't be beholden to those special interests handing out indexes and scorecards.

"Nobody will agree with me 100% of the time, but you should know I'll listen and factor your thoughts and concerns into all decisions. My door will always be open."-- Roger Marshall

Patrick Wiesner: No lobbyist-drafted bills; Senators must read all bills

Patrick believes this is the first step in ending the spectacle of Congress dumping thousands of pages of incomprehensible law on the public and then expecting businesses and government workers to figure out what they and the lobbyists meant.

Sam Brownback: State Supreme Court justices should be elected not appointed

Greg Orman: Constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United

Greg Orman: Ban on PACs formed by congressional leaders

Orman also called for a constitutional amendment overturning the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, which said corporations, labor unions and other groups have a First Amendment right to spend unlimited amounts on elections.

Roberts supports the Citizens United decision and recently tried to block consideration of a Senate proposal allowing limits on corporate campaign spending.

In the State Fair debate, Roberts said he supported "transparency" in campaign donations. "If people know where the money is coming from," he said, "I think that is the biggest reform we can make." Yet current law allows unlimited secret donations to social welfare organizations known by their 501(c)(4) section of the federal tax code. Roberts has not indicated any desire to eliminate those groups.

Greg Orman: 12-year term limit for Congress

Pat Roberts: 2012: No transparency of PAC donors; 2014: Some transparency

In the State Fair debate, Roberts said he supported "transparency" in campaign donations. "If people know where the money is coming from," he said, "I think that is the biggest reform we can make." Yet current law allows unlimited secret donations to social welfare organizations known by their 501(c)(4) section of the federal tax code. Roberts has not indicated any desire to eliminate those groups or prohibit their secret spending in elections.

In 2012, Roberts voted to kill a bill that would have required public disclosure of some donors to companies and labor unions that engage in political activities.

Pat Roberts: No term limits for Congress

Randall Batson: Indifferent to stricter enforcement of the right to vote

A: Indifferent.

Patrick Wiesner: Lobbyists should never be allowed to draft laws, nor donate

Milton Wolf: Photo ID for voting

Wolf: Strongly Disagree

Greg Orman: Ballot requirements hinder 3rd-party candidates

A: "The single greatest hurdle facing an independent candidate is getting the 5,000 signatures on the petition to allow his or her name to be on the ballot," Orman commented. "This is not imposed on party candidates."

"The single greatest hurdle facing an independent candidate is getting the 5,000 signatures to be on the ballot." Orman also stated the rules for this petition stipulate county- specific forms (there are 105 counties in Kansas) and the petition has to be signed in person with a witness--all of which makes the disallowance of signatures very easy.

Another major disadvantage to independents came in 1901 in Kansas with the passage of Antifusion Laws. Prior to this, according to Orman, third parties thrived [because] candidates could run under more than one party. Candidates could state that they were a Populist and a Republican (or any other combination).

Chad Taylor: Require open meetings for water utility rate-setting

The action seeks injunctive relief concerning the rate increase for Howison Heights, Inc., previously approved by the Commission. The impact of the injunction would void the action taken by the KCC resulting in a near fifty percent rate hike to consumers of the water district.

The lawsuit also seeks other relief consistent with the KOMA. The primary purposes of this action are to ensure that both the statutory provisions of the KOMA are adhered to and the purpose of the Act, governmental transparency, is enforced.

Kathleen Sebelius: Implemented $85 million in savings and efficiencies

Kathleen Sebelius: Spending cut to provide a raise for state workers